Some coccidia from the gall-bladder and intestine of the teiid lizard Ameiva ameiva ameiva and the gecko Hemidactylus mabouia in north Brazil

Acroeimeria lineri (McAllister, Upton, Freed, 1988) Paperna and Landsberg, 1989 in Mediterranean Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus): Oocyst Morphometrics, Endogenous Developmental Stages, and Molecular Sequencing Support its Placement into Acroeimeria

Between June 2016 and June 2019, we surveyed 62 Mediterranean geckos, Hemidactylus turcicus, from Abu Rawash, Giza, Egypt, for the presence of endoparasites. In June 2016, we found 3 individuals to be infected with Eimeria lineri. We studied the morphology and inner structures of its sporulated oocysts, and the locations of its intestinal endogenous stages. We also extracted genomic DNA from these sporulated oocysts and successfully sequenced a 632-bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analyses using this partial sequence allowed us to support previous studies that assigned E. lineri to the genus Acroeimeria. Our consensus sequence was used to query similar 18S rDNA sequences from GenBank, and 14 sequences were selected. The phylogenetic analysis inferred by maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods gave similar results, as both separated the sequences into 2 clades: (1) a monophyletic group of Goussia species (from fish); and (2) a strongly supported clade that separated 4 Choleoeimeria species from a polyphyletic group of species that clustered A. lineri with 3 other Acroeimeria species and 3 Eimeria species from lizards, including Eimeria tiliquae from Tiliqua rugosa (Gray, 1825), Eimeria tokayae from Gecko gecko (L., 1758), and Eimeria eutropidis from Eutropis macularia (Blyth, 1853). Our study supports the placement of E. lineri into the Acroeimeria and contributes additional life history information toward understanding the evolutionary origin of the Eimeria-like species that have sporocysts without Stieda bodies in their oocysts and that infect saurian reptiles. We also support the concept that several traits (morphological, endogenous, and gene sequences) are both necessary and important for authors to include when making generic reassignments within the eimeriid coccidia.

Reclassification of Eimeria pogonae Walden (2009) as Choleoeimeria pogonae comb. nov. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae)

The presented paper provides a reclassification of Eimeria pogonae from Pogona vitticeps into the correct genus Choleoeimeria. A description of exogenous and endogenous stages of biliary coccidium is given. Sporulation of the oocysts was endogenous. The mature oocysts contained four sporocysts each with two sporozoites. Oocysts were ellipsoidal in shape, with average length/width ratio 1.7 and measured 28.4 (SD1.5) × 16.8 (SD 1.5). The micropyle, residuum, and polar granules were absent from the sporulated oocysts. Ovoidal in shape, sporosysts without Steida bodies contained residuum and two elongated and boat-shaped sporozoites. The endogenous stages of the coccidia were located mainly in the epithelium of bile ducts; however, single-epithelium cells of the gallbladder were also infected.

A new species of Choleoeimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) parasitic in the rough-tailed gecko Cyrtopodion scabrum (Sauria: Gekkonidae) in Egypt

Coprological examination of 15 samples of the rough-tailed gecko Cyrtopodion scabrum collected from Abu Rawash, Giza, Egypt, revealed that 20 % (3/15) were passing oocysts of a new Choleoeimeria species. Oocysts of Choleoeimeria scabrumi n. sp. are ellipsoidal with a smooth, yellow to orange, bilayered smooth wall, measure 26 × 13 μm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.8. Polar granule, micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal and 8 × 5 μm and the sporocyst wall has two plates joined by a longitudinal suture. Stieda, substieda and parastieda bodies are absent. The endogenous development is confined to the gallbladder epithelium. Mature meronts are subspheroidal and 11-13 × 8-10 μm. Macrogamonts are mostly spheroidal and 12-14 μm wide, with a prominent nucleus in the centre. Microgamonts are irregular in shape, 9-11 × 5-7 μm. Based on the morphological features of the oocysts and the endogenous development in the gallbladder epithelium, we identified this biliary coccidium to be a new species in the genus Choleoeimeria.

Description of Choleoeimeria duszynskii n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the gallbladder of the Middle Eastern short-fingered gecko Stenodactylus doriae (Blanford) (Sauria: Gekkonidae) in Saudi Arabia

Choleoeimeria duszynskii n. sp. is described from the gallbladder of the Middle Eastern short-fingered gecko Stenodactylus doriae (Blanford) from Salasel, Central region, Saudi Arabia. Oöcysts are ellipsoidal (rarely ovoidal), 23-25 × 16-18 (24 × 17) μm, with mean length/width ratio 1.4. Oöcyst wall is smooth, bi-layered, c.1.0 μm thick. Micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 8-10 × 4-6 (9 × 5) μm, with a smooth, colourless sporocyst wall and mean length/width ratio 1.7. Sporozoites are sausage-shaped, with one end slightly pointed, arranged head to tail around sporocyst residuum. Refractile bodies and nuclei are not discernible. The endogenous development is restricted to the epithelium of the gallbladder and bile duct. Meronts are rounded, 12 μm in diameter, containing up to c.15 merozoites. Microgamonts are irregular in shape, 22 × 17 μm, containing a large number of microgametes. Macrogamonts are spherical, 17 μm in diameter, with centrally located nucleus and wall-forming bodies at the periphery.

A new species of Choleoeimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the lizard, Scincus hemprichii (Sauria: Scincidae)

Four out of twenty (20%) specimens of the lizard Scincus hemprichii Wiegmann, collected in Saudi Arabia were infected with a previously undescribed species of Choleoeimeria. Oocysts of Choleoeimeria jazanensis sp. n. are cylindroidal, 26 x 15 microm, with a smooth bilayered wall and a shape index of 1.7. Oocyst residuum and micropyle are absent. Sporocysts are subspherical, 10 x 7 microm, with a shape index of 1.3. The Stieda body is absent. Sporozoites are banana-shaped, 10 x 3 microm, with one refractile body and enclosed the fine granulated sporocyst residuum. The endogenous development is confined to the gall bladder epithelium, with infected cells being displaced from the epithelium layer towards lumen. Mature meronts are subspherical and estimates to produce 9-12 merozoites. Microgamonts are spherical in shape with diameter of 13 microm. Macrogamonts are subspherical with a prominent nucleus in centre and wall-forming bodies at periphery.

Redescription of Eimeria zarudnyi Alyousif & Al-Shawa, 2003 as Choleoeimeria zarudnyi n. comb. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae)

Coprological examination of the worm lizard Diplometopon zarudnyi Nikolskii revealed the presence of oöcysts of Choleoeimeria zarudnyi (Alyousif & Al-Shawa, 2003) n. comb. in five (17%) of the 30 lizards examined. Sporulated oöcysts were found in the faeces and the gallbladder contents. These are tetrasporocystic, ellipsoidal, 25-32 × 18-25 (mean 27 × 22) μm, with a smooth bi-layered wall. The dizoic sporocysts are ovoidal, 10-13 × 6-9 (mean 11 × 7) μm, with a granulated sporocyst residuum. Sporozoites are banana-shaped with an average size of 13 × 3 μm. Endogenous stages (meronts, gamonts and gametes) are confined to the gallbladder epithelium and the infected cells were hypertrophied. Based on the morphological features of the exogenous stages and the endogenous development of the present parasite, its generic affiliation is revised and Eimeria zarudnyi Alyousif & Al-Shawa, 2003 is transferred to the genus Choleoeimeria.

Endogenous stages of Choleoeimeria baltrocki (Daszak et Ball, 1991) n. comb. infecting the gall bladder of gold skink, Eumeces schneiderii Daudin, 1802 from Egypt

Examination of 98 gold skink, Eumeces schneiderii Daudin, 1802 from Alexandria and Marsa-matroh Governorates, Egypt revealed oocysts of Choleoeimeria baltrocki (Daszak et Ball, 1991) n. comb. in the gall bladder and faeces. The prevalence of the infection was 40.8%. Sporulated oocysts were found in the faeces and the gall bladder contents. Sporulated oocysts were tetrasporocystic, cylindrical, reaching a mean of 38.7 (36–42) × 19.9 (17–25) μm with bilayered smooth and colourless wall. The dizoic sporocysts were subspherical and measuring 10.8 (9.5–13) × 9.3 (8–10.5) μm with a large globular sporocyst residuum. Sporocyst wall was bilayered joined by meridional suture. Sporozoites were crescent-shaped, blunt at one end and slightly tapered at the other. Endogenous stages (meronts, gamonts, gametes and young oocysts) were confined to the gall bladder epithelium and the infected cells were hypertrophied. Based on the morphological features of the exogenous stages and endogenous development of the present parasite, its generic affiliation was revised and placed into the genus Choleoeimeria.

Some coccidial parasites of the lizard Amphisbaena alba (Reptilia: Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenidae)

Five parasites are described in the lizard Amphisbaena alba (Amphisbaenidae) from the state of Par , North Brazil. Mature oocysts of Choleoeimeria amphisbaenae n. sp., are passed already mature in the faeces. They are ellipsoidal-cylindrical, average 33.7 x 22.8 m and are devoid of micropyle, oocyst residuum or polar body. The colourless wall is smooth and of 2 layers. The 4 dizoic sporocysts have no Stieda body and average 13 x 9.3 m. Endogenous stages develop in the epithelial cells of the gall-bladder in the manner described for the genus and may cause extensive tissue damage. Sporulation of Isospora capanemaensis n. sp., is completed 3 days after the oocysts are voided in the faeces. They average 14.8 x 14.5 m and have no micropyle, oocyst residuum or polar body. The 2 tetrazoic sporocysts are pear-shaped, average 8.6 x 6.6 and have an inconspicuous Stieda body. Endogenous development is in the epithelial cells of the ileum, and heavy infections cause considerable tissue destruction. Multisporocystic oocysts passed in the faeces of one A. alba possibly originated from an invertebrate host ingested by the lizard. A globidium-like cyst in the digestive tract of A. alba measured 105 x 85 m and contained many hundreds of merozoites. A stained kidney smear of the same lizard revealed the presence of an unidentified parasite producing multinucleate cyst-like stages.

The endogenous development, described by light and electron microscopy, of Eimeria jamescooki sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the skink Cryptoblepharus virgatus

Eimeria jamescooki sp. n. was recovered from the skink Cryptoblepharus virgatus (Garman) found on the grounds of James Cook University, Townsville (type locality), North Queensland, Australia. Oocysts were 17.5-25.0 (22.1 +/- 1.9) x 15-22.5 (17.7 +/- 1.6) microm and sporocysts 6.25-10.0 (7.9 +/- 1.15) x 3.75-6.25 (5.3 +/- 1.0) microm in size. Endogenous stages are described from histological material examined by light microscope and by transmission electron microscope. Both merogony stages and gamonts were found to develop in the cytoplasm of the anterior gut mucosal epithelium. Meront progeny were comprised of 10 to 21 merozoites. Premature macrogamonts were elongate; some host cells contained two elongate macrogamonts. Unique to the presently described species were the Golgi "plaques" and an enclosure of tubuli. Mature macrogamonts and young oocysts ranged in size from 14 x 7 to 21 x 11 microm and contained two types of wall-forming bodies, canaliculi and amylopectin granules. Differentiating microgamonts conformed in fine structure with that observed in other eimerians. Their sizes increased from 15.4 x 4.2 to 28 x 8.4 microm while dividing to over 70 nuclei, which formed a corresponding yield of microgametes.

Intestinal coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) of Brazilian lizards. Eimeria carmelinoi n.sp., from Kentropyx calcarata and Acroeimeria paraensis n.sp. from Cnemidophorus lemniscatus lemniscatus (Lacertilia: Teiidae)

Eimeria carmelinoi n.sp., is described in the teiid lizard Kentropyx calcarata Spix, 1825 from north Brazil. Oocysts subspherical to spherical, averaging 21.25 x 20.15 micro m. Oocyst wall smooth, colourless and devoid of striae or micropyle. No polar body or conspicuous oocystic residuum, but frequently a small number of fine granules in Brownian movement. Sporocysts, averaging 10.1 x 9 microm, are without a Stieda body. Endogenous stages characteristic of the genus: intra-cytoplasmic, within the epithelial cells of the ileum and above the host cell nucleus. A re-description is given of a parasite previously described as Eimeria cnemidophori, in the teiid lizard Cnemidophorus lemniscatus lemniscatus. A study of the endogenous stages in the ileum necessitates renaming this coccidian as Acroeimeria cnemidophori (Carini, 1941) nov.comb., and suggests that Acroeimeria pintoi Lainson & Paperna, 1999 in the teiid Ameiva ameiva is a synonym of A. cnemidophori. A further intestinal coccidian, Acroeimeria paraensis n.sp. is described in C. l. lemniscatus, frequently as a mixed infection with A. cnemidophori. Mature oocysts, averaging 24.4 x 21.8 microm, have a single-layered, smooth, colourless wall with no micropyle or striae. No polar body, but the frequent presence of a small number of fine granules exhibiting Brownian movements. Sporocysts 9 x 8, without a Stieda body. Endogenous stages epicytoplasmic, characteristic of the genus, in the upper ileum. The importance of a study of the endogenous stages of eimeriid coccidia is discussed.

Ultrastructural study of meronts and gamonts of Choleoeimeria rochalimai (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) developing in the gall bladder of the gecko Hemidactylus mabouia from Brazil

Endogenous development of Choleoeimeria rochalimai (Carini et Pinto, 1926) Lainson et Paperna, 1999 in the gall bladder of Hemidactylus mabouia (Moreau de Jonnes, 1818) from Belém, Brazil is reported at the fine structural level. Meronts and gamonts develop in the epithelial cells of the gall bladder. Infected cells become enlarged and displaced above the epithelial layer. Developing merozoites, dividing meronts and succession of developing microgamonts from initial nuclear division up to final microgamete differentiation are described. In addition towall forming bodies, mature macrogamonts possess a large inclusion or cisterna with fine granular contents.

Re-descriptions of Isospora ameivae Carini, 1932 in the teiid lizard Ameiva ameiva and isospora hemidactyli Carini, 1936 in the gecko Hemidactylus mabouia, with particular reference to their endogenous stages

Redescriptions are given of the mature oocysts of Isospora ameivae Carini, 1932, from the teiid lizard Ameiva ameiva, and Isospora hemidactyli Carini,1936 from the gecko Hemidactylus mabouia, in north Brazil. The endogenous stages of the two parasites in the small intestine are described. Those of I. ameivae are intracytoplasmic, whereas those of I. hemidactyli are intranuclear.